Monday, November 26
Eugene, OR
8:00 PM
University of Oregon
4-2
84
vs
89
Texas Southern
2-4
1
2
F
Texas Southern
32
57
89
Oregon
39
45
84
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Ducks Get Wake-Up Call In Loss
11/26/18 | Men's Basketball
The Oregon men's basketball team was upset Monday night by Texas Southern in Matthew Knight Arena.
EUGENE — Despite a season-high 32 points plus 11 rebounds from freshman sensation Bol Bol, the No. 18 Oregon men's basketball team fell 89-84 on Monday night to Texas Southern before 6,926 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.
The Tigers (2-4), 2017 and 2018 NCAA Tournament participants but a decided underdog playing their sixth straight road game to open the season, got hot in the second half while UO sophomore Kenny Wooten was on the bench with a knee bruise. Bol and fellow freshman Will Richardson combined for 29 points in the second half on 11-of-16 shooting, but the rest of the Oregon team went 6-of-18 in the final 20 minutes as the Ducks fell to 4-2 this season.
"This is a terrible loss," UO junior point guard Payton Pritchard said. "This is a bad loss. If we're gonna turn around our season from right here, it's either we get better from this, or we don't."
How It Happened: There was little hint of the drama to come from the outset. Bol scored Oregon's first 10 points, including a deep three-pointer from the top of the arc, and Pritchard made another for a 13-7 lead. Victor Bailey Jr. hit a three and a jumper on consecutive possessions to put Oregon up 22-14, and a hook shot by Bol made it 28-20 with 8:45 left in the half. The Ducks then made just 1-of-11 field goals over the next 6:48, allowing the Tigers to close within 30-27 — a stretch during which Wooten injured his knee on a hard fall. But Pritchard hit two threes and Bailey had another in Oregon's last four possessions, and it was 39-32 at halftime.
With Wooten watching from the bench, Texas Southern closed within 41-38 just after halftime. Oregon then ripped off 10 straight for its biggest lead of the night, 51-38. The Ducks had chances to extend the lead but grew content to settle for threes, shooting eight straight and making just one as the Tigers got back within three at 54-51. They closed the gap by making four straight shots, a mix of dunks and threes, and that hot streak eventually reached 11 in a row as Texas Southern went up 68-64. A three by Bol tied the game at 73-73, but Texas Southern scored six straight to go up 85-77 and clinch the upset bid.
Who Stood Out: Bol had his double-double on 13-of-22 shooting, Pritchard added 14 points with seven assists and Richardson and Bailey each scored 13.
What It Means: For all that Altman preaches defense and rebounding to his teams, it tends to take an early season loss or two before the message is received. The question is, will this team do so, and how quickly?
Quotable:
Head coach Dana Altman
"Obviously very disappointed. We haven't had a loss like that around here in a long time. … There's a lot of places we've gotta go to work."
"We've got a lot of new guys, and I'm not sure they want to adjust to the physicality and toughness we need to have. … Stops and rebounds don't mean a lot to us. And in the college game they have to mean a lot more. So we've got to change our whole mindset."
Junior guard Payton Pritchard
"All five guys gotta start defending. That's the way to win. … We just don't bring it. And that needs to change."
Notable: Oregon volleyball coach Matt Ulmer, whose team hosts NCAA Tournament action in Matthew Knight Arena on Thursday and Friday, fired the "Destroyer Duck" T-shirt cannon during a first-half timeout. … Freshman forward Louis King remained in street clothes for Monday's game, as he continues recovery from injury. Altman said he remains sidelined for the immediate future.
Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to play at Houston on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN2).
The Tigers (2-4), 2017 and 2018 NCAA Tournament participants but a decided underdog playing their sixth straight road game to open the season, got hot in the second half while UO sophomore Kenny Wooten was on the bench with a knee bruise. Bol and fellow freshman Will Richardson combined for 29 points in the second half on 11-of-16 shooting, but the rest of the Oregon team went 6-of-18 in the final 20 minutes as the Ducks fell to 4-2 this season.
"This is a terrible loss," UO junior point guard Payton Pritchard said. "This is a bad loss. If we're gonna turn around our season from right here, it's either we get better from this, or we don't."
How It Happened: There was little hint of the drama to come from the outset. Bol scored Oregon's first 10 points, including a deep three-pointer from the top of the arc, and Pritchard made another for a 13-7 lead. Victor Bailey Jr. hit a three and a jumper on consecutive possessions to put Oregon up 22-14, and a hook shot by Bol made it 28-20 with 8:45 left in the half. The Ducks then made just 1-of-11 field goals over the next 6:48, allowing the Tigers to close within 30-27 — a stretch during which Wooten injured his knee on a hard fall. But Pritchard hit two threes and Bailey had another in Oregon's last four possessions, and it was 39-32 at halftime.
With Wooten watching from the bench, Texas Southern closed within 41-38 just after halftime. Oregon then ripped off 10 straight for its biggest lead of the night, 51-38. The Ducks had chances to extend the lead but grew content to settle for threes, shooting eight straight and making just one as the Tigers got back within three at 54-51. They closed the gap by making four straight shots, a mix of dunks and threes, and that hot streak eventually reached 11 in a row as Texas Southern went up 68-64. A three by Bol tied the game at 73-73, but Texas Southern scored six straight to go up 85-77 and clinch the upset bid.
Who Stood Out: Bol had his double-double on 13-of-22 shooting, Pritchard added 14 points with seven assists and Richardson and Bailey each scored 13.
What It Means: For all that Altman preaches defense and rebounding to his teams, it tends to take an early season loss or two before the message is received. The question is, will this team do so, and how quickly?
Quotable:
Head coach Dana Altman
"Obviously very disappointed. We haven't had a loss like that around here in a long time. … There's a lot of places we've gotta go to work."
"We've got a lot of new guys, and I'm not sure they want to adjust to the physicality and toughness we need to have. … Stops and rebounds don't mean a lot to us. And in the college game they have to mean a lot more. So we've got to change our whole mindset."
Junior guard Payton Pritchard
"All five guys gotta start defending. That's the way to win. … We just don't bring it. And that needs to change."
Notable: Oregon volleyball coach Matt Ulmer, whose team hosts NCAA Tournament action in Matthew Knight Arena on Thursday and Friday, fired the "Destroyer Duck" T-shirt cannon during a first-half timeout. … Freshman forward Louis King remained in street clothes for Monday's game, as he continues recovery from injury. Altman said he remains sidelined for the immediate future.
Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to play at Houston on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN2).
Team Stats
TSU
ORE
FG%
.478
.485
3FG%
.333
.355
FT%
.727
.875
RB
41
32
TO
14
12
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
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